Mist Detection on Tin plate sheet backs

Martin Cairncross 'Mist Detection' from Martin Cairncross on Vimeo.

Mist and Fine Line Detection System for Coater Scraper Cylinders.

Stop BPA-ni causing Dirty sheet Backs!

Scraper cylinder with fine lines and mist

We have developed a mist detection device to measure mist and fine lines on your scraper cylinders, before it contaminates the sheet backs.

The major problem in coating tinplate is that one side of the sheet can be contaminated with a mist of lacquer from the compression cylinder which makes the sheets unusable. The device has a range of sensitivity which can be set to the required quality for a particular can, i.e. food cans would be zero contamination down to industrial cans which would be able to withstand a greater contamination.

The system is capable of being set to a level so fine that a fingerprint can be detected on a compression cylinder. Scanning of the cylinder is carried out by means of a sensor which sweeps the surface of the cylinder from side to side 24/7. Once the Mist is detected the device can stop the line and sound an alarm, and send an email or text to the operator and or the Print manager.

The wastage within the industry on lost tinplate through this type of contamination is immense, and costs are very difficult to quantify, as a coating line will coat up to 6,000 sheets per hour, all of which could be scrapped. The Mist detection system is a much needed breakthrough in quality control, as can-making companies can face massive claims from the public for food contamination. The system would reduce insurance costs and tinplate loss.

The system will be able to store contamination events so your quality team can review the time and date of a sudden appearance of contamination on the cylinder. The acceptable quality level of the sheet may vary from product to product, ie baby food tins would be zero tolerance, whereas, you may set the contamination levels for cat food maybe more. The quality control unit will have the facility of setting the contaminations levels on the coating machine, or, controlled several coating machines remotely at a central office.